VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Mired in last place, the Vancouver Canucks shook up their roster Friday by trading defenseman Drake Berehowsky and center Denis Pederson to the Phoenix Coyotes for three forwards and a draft pick.
Vancouver acquired former first-round pick Todd Warriner, center Trevor Letowski and right wing Tyler Bouck along with the Coyotes' third-round pick in the 2003 draft.
The Canucks ended a three-game losing streak Thursday night, but are last in the Northwest Division with a 15-21-4-0 record, one season after returning to the playoffs for the first time in five years.
Warriner, 27, could be the key to the deal for Vancouver. Selected fourth overall in 1992, the speedy winger scored a career-high 14 goals two seasons ago. But he was assigned to the minor leagues 10 days ago after picking up just three assists in 18 games for Phoenix.
Letowski, 24, had two goals and six assists in 33 games for Phoenix, which selected him in the seventh round of the 1996 draft. He had an outstanding rookie season in 1999-2000, collecting 19 goals and 20 assists while playing all 82 games. But the 5-10, 176-pound center slumped to seven goals and 15 assists in 77 games last season.
The 21-year-old Bouck played just seven games for the Coyotes after they acquired him in the offseason from the Dallas Stars. He spent most of this season with Springfield of the American Hockey League, where he had a goal and two assists in 21 games.
Berehowsky has the most NHL experience of the five players involved in the trade. The 29-year-old defenseman has played 454 games with five teams since he was taken 10th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1990 draft.
The 6-2, 225-pound Berehowsky has a goal and two assists in 25 games this season, his second with Vancouver. His best season also was 1999-2000, when he posted career highs with 12 goals and 20 assists in 79 games with the Nashville Predators.
Pederson, 26, is another former first-round pick. The defensive-minded center had a goal and five assists in 29 games with the Canucks, who acquired him from the New Jersey Devils in March 2000 in the deal involving Alexander Mogilny.
"We're very pleased with the trade," Coyotes general manager Michael Barnett said. "In Drake Berehowsky, we've added experience and depth to our defense. He is also capable of logging time on the power play. Denis Pederson is a big forward who brings us versatility and can play both center and wing."
